It's in the Mail

Nan, the winner of my Top 10 Books of 2010 Giveaway made her choice (weeks ago) and I have (finally!) sent her the book The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau.  It's on it's way!  I hope she enjoys the book as much as I did.

To read my review of The City of Ember, click here.

Happy reading!

And the Winner Is...

Nan!

The random number generator chose comment number 4 as the winner!

Congratulations!

E-mail me or leave a comment letting me know which book from my list of the top 10 books of 2010 you would like to receive. 

Happy reading!

Top 10 Books of 2010: GIVEAWAY!

In an attempt to frantically catch up on all my book review writing for 2010, I have posted a lot of book reviews lately.  I have been so anxious to do my Top 10 of 2010 & GIVEAWAY post and finally.... here it is!

I read a grand total of 34 books this year- less this year than in years past.  When I think back over the year, there were definitely some really fabulous books (The Help might be one of the best books I've ever read!), but for the most part, the books I read just were not (overall) as good this year.  In fact, many were downright bad! 

Also, this year's list is unique in that it contains a great number of children's chapter books.  I spent a portion of 2010 reading books for the Battle of the Books competition coming up in April.  As a judge this year, I have to have read all 40 books on the list, so I will continue to focus my reading on these books through April and then hope to get back to some books in the adult genres.

All in all, the year was not as good (in reading terms) as usual, which made this list of top 10 easy to flesh out.  Without further ado, here are the....

10 Best Books I Read in 2010
(click on the title for the full review)

The Watsons Go To Birmingham by Christopher Paul Curtis

Curtis expertly incorporates a small, but significant, event in our country's history at the climax of this novel about a young boy and his hilarious family. I love books that bring history to life the way Christopher Paul Curtis does.  This would be a great read aloud!

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

The captivating premise of a world without light, the likable characters of Lina and Doon, and an unpredictable plot propel this book to an awe-inspiring ending. Lots of spiritual undertones.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Like nibbling on peppermint candy, Levine has written a Cinderella story that is refreshingly sweet and slightly indulgent. The well-developed characters are so engaging, especially Ella with her defiant sauciness!  Perfect for adolescent girls (or grown women, for that matter)!

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This story of Katniss Everdeen, living in a future America, was completely compelling, and the fast-paced plot sucked me right in and plummeted me to the stunning conclusion! There aren't many books that have kept me on the edge of my seat the way this one did.

Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri

This collection of eight short stories by Jhumpa Lahiri explores the lives of Bengali families living in the United States. Each story, while very different in plot and circumstance, seems to center around an emotionally complex event shrouded in mysterious awkwardness that explores the cultural norms of Bengali individuals.  Lahiri is absolutely one of the best writers I have read!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Beautifully written and perfectly paced, this book sucked me in, and the story of these women absolutely won my heart. I was completely enamored by the characters, 100% invested in their lives, and totally empowered by their courage!  

One of the best books.  

Ever.

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert

This is such a wonderful book about a fascinating and little-known (to me) time in history.  When 7-year-old Rachel Kalama begins to show signs of leprosy, her family is forced to send her to the island of Moloka'i where she is to remain, confined, with other lepers.  A lovely, sad story that is interspersed with  historical references that add validity and a ring of truth to the novel.  Fabulous book!

Listening is an Act of Love: A Celebration of American Life by Dave Isay

Listening is an Act of Love is a compilation of stories told by real people for the StoryCorps Project that is featured on National Public Radio every week.  This is a book that will make you appreciate the beauty of a life well-lived. It will touch your heart.

The Daily Five: Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades 

by Gail Boushey & Joan Moser

This book was one of the best I have read in the education genre. The writing was simple, clear, and concise which made the book so easy and fast to read.  The logic and practicality of the Daily Five seemed to lend itself to easy application. This is a great book that I would recommend to all teachers!

The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

A beautiful story spanning the lifetimes of the two Hartford sisters and their housemaid, The House at Riverton is a story with a grand scope, dark family secrets, and a compelling, haunting flavor.

Now, the giveaway information....
Leave a comment on this post letting me know what book(s) was/were your favorite in 2010 and you could win a copy of one of my favorites from 2010!  Next Saturday (January 29) I will use a random number generator to select one of the comments, and that commenter will get a brand new copy of one of the books (his/her choice) from my list of 2010 faves above! Happy reading!

Long Overdue...

Becca, the winner of the book giveaway, made her book choice and I was able to deliver it to her personally this past weekend. She chose The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Enjoy, Becca! It's a great book!

Also, Lauren was the only commenter on the post about the book Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls so she wins that book by default!

I hope both girls enjoy their new books, and I hope everybody out there keeps reading...

And the winner is.....

Perry, Becca, & Simon!!

(which I'm pretty sure means Becca is the real winner!)

The random number generator chose comment number 15 as the winner!

Congratulations!

E-mail me or leave a comment letting me know which book from my list of the top 9 books of 2009 you would like to receive. Happy reading!

Top 9 Books of 2009: GIVEAWAY!

One of the only personal goals I made for myself in the year 2009 was to read a book a week all year and I got off to a terrific start! I was reading and reading and reading...

And then I got pregnant...

...and sick.

And I couldn't read anymore.

I took two months off and haven't been reading at the same pace since. (And, sadly, might never again.) ~insert sad emoticon here~

SO, the grand total of books I read in the year 2009 is a measly 39.

Of those 39 books, I have chosen 9 favorites to share with you here. If you're looking for a good read, these are all excellent choices that I highly recommend. In no particular order, I present you with the...

9 best books I read in the year 2009

The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
This epic novel is simultaneously a coming of age story about a boy and his dogs and a haunting book about desperation and revenge. It may start a little slow, but it is totally worth the time it will take to read all 562 pages.

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
This deliciously intriguing story about the secrets of two very different writers is beautifully written (and my favorite book quote of the year comes from this one)!
See below

Love Walked In by Marisa de los Santos
This enchanting story of a lonely 30-something woman and a scared 11-year-old girl is a sweet, captivating love story.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
Shaffer and Barrows describe life on Guernsey during the German occupation with affectionate sentimentality and quirky humor through letters written by endearing characters. This is a story well worth reading!

The Kindness of Strangers by Katrina Kittle
When the Laden family takes in the abused son of a good friend, they learn the true meaning of family. This absorbing story of child abuse is superbly written.

Every Living Thing by Cynthia Rylant
This tender book of short stories for children captures the significant impact animals can have in the lives of their people. Each animal tale has a poignant, subtle message that is perfect to read aloud to children of all ages!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
This book is a terrific and amazingly accurate portrayal of bullying in a high school. It moved me to tears.

The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
The Lake of Dead Languages, while predictable, was wonderfully scary and completely engrossing. The all-girls boarding school at a lake in the Adirondacks is the perfect setting for a great mystery, and Goodman's detailed descriptions of the events surrounding the lake made this book totally creepy!

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Told from the perspective of death, this World War II young adult novel is one of the most amazing and powerful books I have ever read! It made me think about right and wrong. It forced me to consider the strength of my convictions. It overpowered me with compassion and love for characters unlike any I have felt before, and made me cry like a baby. It's definitely the best book I've read this year.

Now...
it's time for the BIG giveaway!!!

Leave a comment on this post letting me know what books were your favorite in 2009 and you could win a copy of one of my favorites from 2009! Next Friday (January 15) I will use a random number generator to select one of the comments... and that commenter will get a brand new copy of one of the books (his/her choice) from my list of 2009 faves above! Good luck!

"There is something about words. In expert hands, manipulated deftly, they take you prisoner. Wind themselves around your limbs like spider silk, and when you are so enthralled you cannot move, they pierce your skin, enter your blood, numb your thoughts. Inside you they work their magic." -The Thirteenth Tale

You've Probably Been Wondering

As winner of my very first giveaway, Lauren was able to choose which book of my top 8 of 2008 she wanted to own a copy of. I'm sure you've been dying to know which one she chose! Here's the brand new book ready to be enjoyed by it's brand new owner!

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

It's a good one!

And the winner is....

Lauren!

The random number generator chose comment number 1 as the winner!

Congratulations!

E-mail me or leave a comment letting me know which book from my list of the top 8 books of 2008 you would like to receive (oh, and I guess I need your new address). Happy reading!

Top 8 Books of 2008: GIVEAWAY!

I read this year. A lot.

There are a lot of things in my life that contributed to my ability to read so much more this year than I have in a long time. I had no wedding to plan. I had no graduate classes to study for. I wasn't starting a brand new job. I made the difficult decision to cut way back on tutoring students after school. And, it helped that I have discovered a lot of cheaper ways to get my hands on books (although nothing is really cheaper than the good 'ole public library which I live a lot closer to than I used to)!

For the first time in my life, thanks to one of my favorite websites- goodreads, and with the help of this blog, I have been able to keep a thorough account of my reading for full calendar year (scroll down for a complete list). I know exactly how many books I have read (52, not counting any picture books that I read for my job) and I actually remember what they were about (because I took the time to write about most of them).

I have read many really great books this year, and I have also read some lousy ones. So that you don't waste your time on the lousy ones, here is my list (in no particular order) of the...

8 best books I read in the year 2008.

(Note: I only considered "grown up" books for this list.)

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini:

This book by the author of The Kite Runner will make you proud to be a woman. It's wonderfully heartbreaking.

Girl With a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier:

This kind of historical fiction is exactly what I love most- a story that is captivating and, simultaneously, makes me seek more information about an historical figure.

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving:

This book will require an investment of time if you plan to read all 543 pages, but the story is quite remarkable. The heroic and unusual protagonist will stay with you long after his story is over.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls:

This frank and straightforward memoir of neglect will eat away at your emotions even as the author who experienced it stays unemotional in it's retelling.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen:

"I meant what I said, and I said what I meant... an elephant's faithful- one hundred percent!" A must-read!

Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos:

Somehow this novel has slipped under the radar as I had never heard of it before it was "assigned" reading for my book club. It's definitely worth seeking out.

Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock:

This book broke my heart.

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See:

Lisa See creates spellbinding anticipation through her exquisite use of foreshadowing to tell an achingly beautiful and bittersweet story about friendship and regret.

Now for the fun part.... my first giveaway!

Leave a comment on this post letting me know what book(s) was/were your favorite in 2008 and you could win a copy of one of my favorites from 2008! Next Friday (January 9) I will use a random number generator to select one of the comments, and that commenter will get a brand new copy of one of the books (his/her choice) from my list of 2008 faves above! Good luck!